Being Mindful

          

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.  The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.  Romans 8:5-7 (NIV)

What are you allowing into your mind?  Are you being governed by your flesh or by God’s Spirit? 

It is important to be mindful of what you allow into your mind and the motivation behind it.  The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by God’s Spirit is life and peace.

Are those things you are allowing in life affirming, uplifting, and in alignment with God’s truth?  Do they inspire you, motivate you, uplift you, encourage you, give you joy, result in peace?

Consider what you are letting into your mind.  We are encouraged by Paul to be mindful.

You Are More

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

Tenth Ave North

, You Are More

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

We are more than what we often we think we are.  In Christ we are a new creation. 

We are not a product of our past.  We are not a product of our past mistakes.  We are not a product of what the world tells us we are or are not.  We are not a product of what has been done to us or what we have done.  What He did for us is what matters.  We are more in Christ.

Sometimes it is difficult to believe this.  Sometimes we have spent far too long away from that that would remind us of who we truly are.  Away from quiet time with God, our father.  Who through His spirit reminds us of how much he loves us.  How much he cherishes us.  How much he enjoys us - Who we truly are as his children.

The messages we often receive from the world or from others may not be led by His spirit.  Often they are not.  They do not remind us of who we truly are, but instead who the world thinks we are or what the world wants us to believe we are.

The remedy?  Return to the source.  Return to the voice of God.  Sit at his feet and soak in his goodness, his warmth, his reassurance, his strength, his love.  Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.

When was the last time you sat at His feet.  How long will you wait? 

You are more than what you think you are.  You are more in Christ.

Homecoming

While the travels “abroad” have been great on so many levels it is also awesome to return home.

While away in Washington and Florida we made new friends, enjoyed two amazing church families, and got a chance to experience and see other parts of the world.  We are better for it and were richly blessed by the people we met.

While there were some tears as we said goodbye to friends, we realize that with technology today we are only an Internet connection away.  They will be missed but we are looking forward to staying in touch no matter the distance.  Our hope is that we left those places better for having been there.

It has been equally great to return home.  We are closer to family and old friends which we have missed over the years.  We have begun to reconnect with friends, some a result of chance meetings while out and about – much to their and our surprise.  The kids are getting plugged back into schools, reconnecting with school mates from years ago. 

While the beaches of Florida are world class, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the mountains and have plugged back into the local hiking routine as if I never left.  A quick hike with the boys before school is a tremendous way to start the day.

It was great to be away but it is awesome to return home - a wonderful homecoming is underway.    

Creating Tribal Culture

Tribal culture is created by it's leader’s passion and creative drive.  This is the catalyst that fuels tribal culture.

Culture flows from the leader.  Whether a family, team, rock band, or billion dollar organization, tribal culture is a byproduct of it's leader.  Who the leader is.  Their passions.  What they believe.  All these drive what they create, and is the fuel that drives tribal culture.

Apple is Apple because of Steve Jobs.  Experiencing his passion from afar through his inspirational creations all these years has been an amazing thing to witness.  His heart and passion explodes out of everything he has created.  His shoes cannot and should not try to be filled.  They are his shoes no one else’s.  I have more respect for him as a leader than ever before watching the amazingly brave thing he has done in stepping down from the helm of something he obviously is very passionate about.  I wish him and the company nothing but the best.

Zappos is Zappos because of Tony Hsieh.  Expose yourself to Zappos’ customer obsessive culture.  Their Culture Book alone is worth writing them for and they will blow you away with their customer obsession, generosity, professionalism, humility, passion for what they do, and yes - a little weirdness!  Read Tony’s book Delivering Happiness if you want a glimpse from the leader himself as to how the culture at Zappos was born, why they are who they are, and why they exist!  Wow!   

U2 is U2 because of Bono and his Big Idea.  Yes, Bono is quick to point out and share the credit with Edge, Larry, and Adam that make up the band, and the tribe in Dublin and elsewhere that all make the shows and everything U2 does happen.  However Bono is their leader.  The highest grossing tour of all time, the result of a passionate and multi-generational audience, whose collective passion moves mountains is not a coincidence.  It is fueled by its catalytic leader.

Great tribes are energized from the top by their leaders.   Whether mind blowing products, Wow, or music that moves mountains, the leader’s passion and creative drive propels the tribe. 

The world is a better place because of Steve, Tony, and Bono.  The amazing things they've created, and the tribes they lead. 

Truth in Love

Truth in Love.  A great reminder from Seth Godin's blog regarding having people in your life that are willing to share the truth with you.  We are in the dark unless someone is willing to be honest with us.

Truth in Love.  I hope you have people in your life that do that for you, and that you are willing to do that as well for others.  I don't know many people that look forward to, relish the opportunity, or feel comfortable having that sometimes honest but tough conversation with someone. 

None the less, we have got to have them.  Get comfortable feeling uncomfortable. 

Share the truth in love with someone today.

Bruce

Enough Said

Actions speak louder than words.  Do.  What will you do today?

Enough said.

Happy leap day!

Be Extraordinary or Else

Be extraordinary or else.

Extraordinary things create demand.  Businesses that are extraordinary  don’t have to discount to generate demand – they're remarkable instead. 

In our neighborhood there are a few local restaurants that have great food, a unique experience, and friendly employees that get hospitality.  No matter the price point they are busy.  No one wants to eat at an empty restaurant – it’s empty for a reason. 

Many businesses that aren’t great enough to be busy have succumbed to online discounters like Groupon, LivingSocial, and others to generate demand. 

The cost is high.  One restaurateur admitted the net proceeds are 25% of retail after the discounter’s cut.  In his business that doesn’t cover his food cost.  This is not a sustainable strategy.  A spa marketer mentioned that a client got hit with a coupon demand they couldn’t service and had unhappy customers.  Unhappy customers tell friends.

When you’re extraordinary the price is the price.  Create demand by being extraordinary or else.

Get Ready

Get ready.  Everybody has a first time. 

You think your heart is going to explode out of your chest.  Your mind is racing, your heart is pumping.  The crowd is excited in anticipation of what they are about to experience – the roar seems deafening.  Breathe!

Your heart, your passion, your energy, your vision, your gift - your entire life has led you to this moment – this very moment – this Gig.

Go for it!  Hold nothing back.  Be you.  Be epic. 

You never get a second first time.  After that you’re known.  Loved or hated – you’re out there.   Today… for the whole world to see.

Get ready... for the ride of your life. 

It's Worth It

When it becomes something you have to do you begin to understand the concept of worth.

Things will be very difficult.  There will likely be countless hurdles, obstacles, and challenges.  People will tell you it can't be done it's impossible.  There will be alot of naysayers.  You will likely be called crazy.  Why then doesn't any of that matter to you? 

Because you believe it.  You know it's possible.  You see it.  You're called to it.  As a result, to you it's worth it.

All the great explorers were seen as crazy in their day.  Now we look back on them and lift them up as trail blazers, conquerors - true pioneers.  Yet it all started with someone looking out beyond the horizon into the unknown and saying I have to go there.  Setting sail - indifferent to the voice of opposition.

Why?  Because it is something they had to do - it's worth it.

Quit Procrastinating

I have been thinking about quitting.  Quitting led me to think about procrastinating.  So I have decided to quit procrastinating.

Life is made up of moments.  Every moment is full of possibility - potential.  Every moment we do something.  Even doing nothing is doing something.  Procrastinating is putting off doing something you should do and doing something else.  The “should do” is the most important thing to be done in that moment. 

The challenge is that we are bombarded by new things – opportunities to procrastinate.  They come in many forms and include phone calls, email, text messages, tweets, unannounced visits, and any other types of interruptions too numerous to mention.

These interruptions don’t necessarily change the “should do” of a given moment.  Only if the new thing is urgent (the house is burning), important (more important than what you were doing), and something “you” (versus someone else) should do should it be considered.  Otherwise stay on task.    

If not managed effectively interruptions can be huge productivity killers and have a significant negative impact on achieving your full potential.   

Life is made up of moments.  Every moment counts.  In order to realize the full potential of as many moments as possible, decide to quit procrastinating. 

Barriers to Competition?

In the early days of my career in the luxury hotel business we used to hang our hat on perceived barriers to new competition.  A magical setting with a "sense of place", exceptional service, world class cuisine...  Back then we also knew the capital cost of new construction was a significant barrier.  They worked to a degree for a while.

That was then.  Airbnb is now.  With 20,000,000 connections and counting, and a $100 million round meaning a $1 billion valuation this is formidable new competition for the traditional hotelier. 

The world has gotten incredibly connected and very social.  Everywhere there are tribes of people forming with no geographical boundaries - just common interests.  We yearn to be connected to people in a meaningful way.  Life is too short to go it any other way. 

What barriers?

The magical setting may be just down the road, footsteps away, or the view from the back deck.  World class cuisine is likely at our fingertips, at a trendy local haunt again down the road, or a function of a lively and engaging dinner party hosted in our new vacation home compliments of airbnb.  The guests of the party are a local subset of one of the tribes we're in and we are meeting many new friends in person for the first time and we are having a blast.  Exceptional service?  Maybe - maybe not.  But who cares.  We are having the time of our life.  "Have you been out on the deck yet?"

There are no barriers to new competition. 

Staying relevant and protecting market share and profitability means being remarkable - memorable.  For a refresher on being remarkable read Seth Godin's, Purple Cow. 

It takes blue ocean strategy.  So unique, so special, so remarkable it can't be replicated, or results in such a head start that major competition is not likely.

It's innovative.  Innovate or die. 

We live in very exciting times!  Happy leap day!      

 

"Creating Interest in Our Brand"

Dasein - Invitation to Hang is a work created by artist Chase Jarvis being staged at the Ace Hotel in New York City.

A very interesting and I think very creative way of taking an art form and creating a living breathing work inside a boutique hotel in NYC.  Photos being contributed by photographers from all over the world via the web (freely), and being selected and shown by the artist on a daily basis as a collection of photos inside the hotel. 

Not sure whose brain child this was but looking at the Ace’s site it seems to be very much in sync with their branding as a boutique hotel.  I am guessing the Ace hotel is experiencing increased interest, traffic, attention, and exposure to their hotel and brand as a result of this work.

So how does this concept translate/transfer to other hotels?  Other ideas, translations, or iterations to create interest and awareness in our brand - our product? 

That’s for you and others to figure out.  I just found the site and shared… 

Have a great day!   

"Late to the Party"

Some days I feel I show up at certain relevant parties very late!  Today happens to be one of those days. 

I was reading Fast Company's Top 100 Most Creative People in Business 2011 List this morning and came across Sal Khan of Khan Academy who is ranked 7th on this year's list.  The list contains 99 other very creative and influential people, but I stopped at Sal and will return to the list for further review at a later time.

My initial thought was one of amazement and awe as I read about Sal's vision for bringing a world-class education to anyone anywhere, and ultimately transforming the educational system itself through the Khan Academy.  Inspiring!  Uplifting!  Awesome!  These thoughts were immediately followed by a feeling of sheer embarrassment on my part as a parent.  How could I possibly be so late to this most important party?

How could I possibly be a parent of five kids and not know about the Khan Academy and Sal's vision for bringing web based education to the world?  I happen to be very good at math, however, the jury is still out on my mathematical tutoring efficacy (Just ask my kids).  How could I be so out of touch?  All those hours over the years of attempting to explain math to my kids without a clue of the powerful tool at my disposal a few simple mouse clicks away!

Late to the party? Yes - Khan Academy is at 57 million plus lessons delivered, with 2,100 video lessons and counting, and other tools too numerous to list on this post.  But as they say, better late than never!

My passion is to help people reach their full potential.  This site can help!

So, I am doing what anyone in my position would do.  First, immediately admit that to this most important party I was late.  Second, for the rest of your benefit share the information with you so that if you are not already in the know - now you are!

If you have kids check out this site!  If you know people who have kids tell them about this site!  If you want to learn more about a subject yourself check out this site!  If it is good enough for Bill Gates to vouch for as a useful tool, and one that the Gates Foundation is now helping, than I am all ears.

Better late than never!  I am off to find the next party.

Have a great day!

Must Read List - "Rework", by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier

by Bruce Campbell

Our public library finally got around to procuring a copy of "Rework" by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier the founders of 37Signals.  For anyone planning on staying in the world of business for the foreseeable future this is a must read.  But then again don't take my advice, just read what Seth Godin, Tom Peters, Mark Cuban, Tony Hsieh, William Taylor, Saul Kaplan, and Jessica Livingston said about the book.

For anyone like me with kids I think it is more important they read it!  Have them read it, then you read it so you can understand where they are coming from.  Not surprisingly - it is a refreshingly candid read.  To borrow a concept from the book, enjoy your "alone zone" while reading this one.

Now I have to go track down a copy for my reference library - as this is one I will be re-reading time and again.

Have a great day!   

Happy Leapday

by Bruce Campbell

TGIL.  Thank God Its Leapday!

Monday is no longer Monday.  Monday is Leapday.

Leapday represents a reminder that each week is full of new and exciting possibilities.  Leapday is a reminder to each of us to look at Monday in new way.  Monday represents an opportunity to take another leap in the direction of your quantum leap. 

Every day is important in the context of your quantum leap.  In his Pursuit Journal, Price Pritchett introduces his readers to the concept of a Quantum Leap Ritual.  A Quantum Leap Ritual being a daily ritual to be practiced twice each day in order to keep us focused on and moving in the direction of our goal - our quantum leap.  Every day is important.

I find however that Monday’s can be particularly challenging.  Pre-existing demands, distractions, habits, and old behaviors compete for our attention, can quickly creep back into our day, and have the potential to derail our efforts to remain focused on the prize – accomplishing the quantum leap. 

Don’t let Monday’s win.  Monday is now Leapday.  Focus on the next step in the direction of your quantum leap and act on it.  Leap.

Yesterday is ancient history.  Tomorrow is right around the corner.  Today is the day.

Today is Leapday.  TGIL.

Happy Leapday! 

Bruce    

Social Entrepreneurship Business Models

An interesting article in this months edition of Inc. Magazine on social entrepreneurship  "How a Business Can Change the World" .  Among other things, they describe the new business models that are being used/created by entrepreneurs where the "social mission" is a significant component of the overall mission of the company or in fact the primary mission. 

An interesting read for those of us who are passionate about impacting the world through our personal contribution and businesses.

Motivation

by Bruce Campbell

There is not a person on the planet that doesn’t need to be motivated. 

How motivated are you today?  What is your motivation?  Who are you motivating?  Are you motivating?  Who is motivating you?

Many lack desire.  Many are not receptive.  Many are not willing.  Many are afraid to change.  Many say they don’t know how.  Many say they can’t.  Are you a many?  Or are you one of the few.

Few will listen.  Few will react.  Few will change.  Few will surround themselves with motivating people.  Few will motivate.  Few will leap.

Is today a “leapday”?  Yesterday is ancient history!  Tomorrow is just around the corner.

Today is the day!

Bruce

Fences

by Bruce Campbell

Don’t fence me in.

Are there fences in your life?  Are they real or just fences you have created in your mind?  Self imposed limitations that seem real but actually aren't.

How high is the fence?  How long has it been there?  Who created it?

What is on the other side?  How bad do you want to get there?

Can you visualize yourself going over, under, around, or through the fence?  When?

When the desire to get beyond the fence becomes greater than whatever is holding you back you will start climbing.

Today is the day!

Bruce

Today

by Bruce Campbell

What steps will you take today?  Are they in the direction of your vision for your future, or just steps?

What new steps will appear today?  Will you take them?

What steps won’t you take today?  Why not? 

Will you take all steps or take some leaps today?  What leaps have you been thinking about but just haven’t jumped yet?  Will today be a “leapday”?

They’re just steps right?  Wrong!  Today is full of unleashed potential, possibilities, and divine moments.  Yesterday is ancient history!  Tomorrow is just around the corner.

Today is the day!

Bruce 

Pursuing Greatness

by Bruce Campbell

When was the last time anyone used the word “great” when they were describing you?  I was struck by this thought this morning when our son Austin’s coach said how much they loved having him on the track team, “He is a great kid!”

Do people describe our country as being great?  Our family?  Our children?  Do we live in great neighborhoods - that are a part of great communities?  Do we work at great companies?  Do we play on great teams?  Are we still making great advances?  Are we pursuing greatness?  For some of us, maybe we can still say we are a part of and pursuing great things.  Great!


He is a great leader…a great friend…a great coach… a great husband…a great father…a great neighbor…a great servant…a great mentor…a great trainer…a great teacher…a great doctor…a great motivator…a great investor…a great businessman…a great (enter anything you want to).

In his book Good to Great, author Jim Collins said, "Good is the enemy of great."  I agree - great lies well beyond good.  Anyone can achieve a good result - pursuing greatness takes more.  

You have to have a clear vision for what “greatness” looks like.  You have to know what you want to be great at.  You have to have a crystal clear picture of where you want to end up.  What the “end” looks like.  Don’t get caught up in the “how to”.  That can tend to limit your perception of what is possible.  You have to see in your mind what greatness looks smells and feels like.  Picture the end…the result. 

You have to have a passion for what you want to be great at.  You have to want it.  When things get difficult and your heart is not into something it is too easy to abandon the effort and accept a good result without the “heart” to achieve greatness.  I have met countless individuals in my life that didn’t really want to be great.  Some seem to not even want to be good.  I myself have struggled from time to time - accepting being "good" at something and taking my eye off the result – losing the desire or lacking the discipline to continue to pursue a “great” result.  Pursuing greatness takes passion.

You have to change.  What you did got you to where you are.  Where you are going will take a new and different set of behaviors.  This means change.  Get used to the discomfort that comes from trying new things.  You likely did it as a kid.  You didn’t have the skills it took to walk, ride a bike, climb a tree, or swim.  You tried news things to accomplish a new result.  You changed.  More of the same will simply get you more of the same.  Try less of the same and more of the new – change.

You have to pursue greatness.  Inactivity is not an option.  You don’t have to have a clear path to your result.  Just start.  You didn’t have a clear picture of how to get to the top of that tree as a kid.  You just started climbing.  The path became obvious to you as you climbed.  My challenge is not getting to the gym and working out every morning.  It is the first five seconds after I wake up – getting my feet to the floor in the direction of my workout clothes – inertia.  Start in the direction of your goal.  Just start.    

You have to accept failure.  Trying new things will result in failure from time to time.  That’s okay.  There is risk whether you stay the same or you pursue greatness.  Decide to choose a new set of risks.  Learn from your failures as opposed to avoiding them all together.  You likely fell many times attempting to ride that bike as a kid.  You simply increased your understanding along the way and eventually mastered the skill.  Have you been failing lately?  If not this is likely a sign you are not pursuing greatness.

Believe.  Believe you can accomplish the result - believe you can get there.  If you can’t believe, at least suspend the disbelief.  You don’t have any more information telling you that you can’t get where you want to go, so why not simply suspend the disbelief.  Either way believe or suspend your disbelief. 

Have fun.  Be in the moment to the best of your ability and enjoy the ride!  Don’t get caught up in thinking too much about the future, or worrying about how you will get there.  Just do what you need to do now - today - in pursuit of your vision, and have a blast doing it.  Believe it or not…you have everything it takes already inside you to make it.  Have a great day!

Bruce